Balancing building your career and parenting is like taking on two full-time jobs. Working parents have a lot on the ball, and it’s not easy. If you’re a parent struggling to do it all, know that you are not alone. We want to help you out, so we’ve rounded up the following suggestions of tips to help you stay on track. Hopefully they will make your life a little easier.
Work Remotely
Lots of people are working remotely at least part of the time, and there’s no doubt that it makes parenting a little simpler. It might not always be easier to have to get things done for work with a child running around, but it does simplify having to set up childcare, etc. If you have a newborn, you can even place their baby bassinet next to your desk so that you can keep an eye on them while you work.
Think Long Term
In the short term, you might feel overwhelmed and overworked, but it’s important to remind yourself that this is only temporary. As your child grows older, childcare becomes easier and they become more self-sufficient. Try to enjoy and embrace the chaos of having young children, because once they grow up, you’ll wish they were little again.
Have a Work Backup Plan
When you are working and parenting at the same time, there are inevitably going to be things that go wrong. It’s just how it is, and you have to accept that in advance so that you can be ready to do plan B at a moment’s notice. For anything really important, be sure to have backup plans in place in case it doesn’t go according to plan. This means letting your boss know that your life as a parent comes first and there may be times when you need to call out of work. Stay flexible, ask your colleagues for help, and you’ll be fine.
Limit Distractions
Whether you are working remotely or in an office, distractions can pop up all the time that take time away from what you are supposed to be concentrating on. It’s important to think ahead and try to limit these interruptions before they happen. For example, if you are at home with your kids, you can let them know that you need an hour or two of quiet time. Phones are a big distraction, so consider putting yours in a drawer so that you are not tempted to check social media or texts while you are working.
Try a Time Management App
Time is precious when you are a parent trying to get all of your work tasks done before the end of the day. If you feel like you don’t know where your time is going and you are struggling to get all of your to-do’s done, then a time management app or service is a great tool to try. With a time tracker like Toggl, you can clock every second you are working so that you can see how long each task is taking you. When you are aware of how you spend your time, you will be better prepared to handle deadlines and manage your workload.
Keep Life and Work Separate
It can be really tempting to blur the lines between work life and home life, especially when you are working from home. However, it’s essential that you set your hours for work and stick to those without bringing work into areas of your life. When you take your work phone to bed or answer emails at the dinner table, it can affect your relationships and cause you excess stress. Even though you are trying to balance work and life, by not taking time to relax and enjoy home time, you will end up feeling burned out.
Article composed by Brielle Albert. Brielle Albert is a writer and digital marketing professional. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree at New York University. Brielle has professional experience in social media marketing and copywriting.
